Title: Shrinking Solution

Disclaimer: everything belongs to J. .

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to write another story, I've been busy with work and university :/ I hope you enjoy this one! Will await your reviews /kisses/

I will give warnings when needed.

*** The story disregards Snape, Hedwig, Fred, Crabbe, and Dumbledore's deaths

Chapter 1

Harry's POV

Harry's summer this year was shocking. He had gotten used to the screaming of aunt Petunia, the complaints of uncle Vernon, and the bullying nature of Dudley. But this summer had passed quietly. He had even gone with them to the zoo once, had not been knocked to the ground, and had not unleashed a snake. Dudley was nice, and seemed interested in Harry's magical abilities. Aunt Petunia had even smiled when he cleaned the living room using a spell. The Golden Boy would have never thought this day would actually come – he felt like the Dursleys were his relatives after all. However, he had thought about Hogwarts very much, and could not help feeling quite saddened by the fact that he will not be able to go there.

Hogwarts was left shattered after the war, he'd remembered, and it pained him to think of his school as mere ruins. But when he had received a letter from the school, he was surprised to say the least. He looked it over for about five minutes before daring to open it.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will reopen its gates to all seventh year students who wish to finish their N.E.W.T exams.

Term begins on September 2nd.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry had no doubt he was going back to school. Even if his job as an auror were ready for him, he wouldn't feel right leaving school without finishing what was necessary. He wondered if the school would be the same or if it'd be ruins, like the last time he saw it. He wondered whether his friends would return as well. How would he feel when he's there without Hermione, Ron, or Neville? Maybe they'd choose to go back as well.

Harry hurried to his room and wrote two letters – one to Ron, the other to Hermione – asking them if they'd be going back to Hogwarts for their eighth year. He'd love to go back! He wanted one more year with his friends, and with his professors – even Snape! It would be like his first year, when he didn't have to worry so much about Voldemort and the Death Eaters. He still couldn't believe he had gotten rid of him. He'd sometimes sleep thinking this was all a dream, and he'd wake up hearing Dumbledore telling him to be ready for the Dark Lord to strike, or listening to Snape pestering him about his lack of concentration in his Occlumency lessons.

When he finished writing his letters, he attached them to Hedwig's legs and opened the window for her to fly – after giving her some treats of course.

He'd laid on his bed, grinning like an idiot, but couldn't stop himself. He could only hope Ron and Hermione wanted to go back, because it wouldn't be the same without them.

The next morning, two letters were brought to him by Hedwig. He had been waiting for them anxiously. Harry immediately opened the one from Ron and read it, then read Hermione's. They were both going back! Harry had never been happier. Ron wrote about his summer, how they'd bought a new place to spend their time, and how everyone missed him – especially Molly and Ginny. He wished Harry was there with him, and couldn't wait to see him at the train station. Hermione's letter, on the other hand, was a bit scary. She was upset with him for not writing much, had pestered him because she'd been worried, and then told him that he should've known better than to ask her if she were going back…because, well, that was obvious! Harry was happy to receive her letter nonetheless.

OoO

Sunday, September 1st

Harry met his friends at the train station, just like his first year. Hermione wasn't there, but they figured she was already on the other side since they were a bit late. Ginny went first, then Ron, and Harry followed afterward. Molly had told him to take care of himself and both her children before he rushed between the two isles.

They got on the train a minute before it left the station. Ginny was hovering next to them asking Harry all sorts of questions that he didn't want to answer, but he did so nonetheless. Ron found Hermione in a compartment and gestured for both of them to come along. Ginny, however, told them that her friends were waiting for her, and left.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said excitedly, and hugged him, both her arms squeezing him like he was a toy she'd lost and found again.

"Hermione…" Harry said, his voice but a whisper "you're choking me"

"Oh, I'm so sorry Harry" she let go of him "I just miss you! You didn't write much" Hermione looked at him with an accusing expression.

"I'm sorry, Hermione…" he smiled at her, and she couldn't not smile back, which always made him feel better. He and Ron sat down, and talked animatedly all the way to Hogwarts.

He hadn't realized how much he'd missed his friends. Living with the Dursley's wasn't half bad now, but it still wasn't nearly the same.

As soon as they got to Hogwarts, Harry breathed in, closing his eyes. This was his home, he grew up here, and it was the safest place for him. He knew he was very lucky to have been a wizard. He hadn't stopped thinking about what it'd have been like if he weren't, and he'd shuddered every time.

Last year had been a mess. He'd almost died in battle, he was helped by none other than Narcissa Malfoy, and he'd testified in court in favor of Lucius.

He remembered how disarrayed everything was. Snape was nearly killed by Nagini, and was saved at the last moment, McGonagall tried to protect the school as much as she could, but Hogwarts was still almost beyond repair, and Dumbledore, well he managed to catch every Death Eater and hand them to the Dementors.

When he laid his eyes on his previous home, he was surprised to find that it looked almost the same. There were, of course, a few cracks here and there, but other than that, it was just perfect.

"Harry!" someone screamed from behind him, and Harry didn't quite recognize the sound. He turned around and saw a bunch of his friends he hadn't seen on the train – he didn't leave his compartment after all.

"Dean! Seamus! Neville! You're all here!" he shouted excitedly. All of his roommates were there. They can relax this year, get their NEWTS, and have a Voldemort-free year, all to themselves. Not to mention, Quidditch – which he was dying to play again.

As soon as the ceremony was over, Harry rushed to their common room with all his friends. They sat there, chatting, catching up, all of them excited beyond belief to start term. They had gotten their schedules earlier, and they were even looking forward to studying with Snape, although Harry was sure the excitement wouldn't last much.

He looked around their dorm, and was relieved to find it hadn't changed. They were given the same one, with the same people, and Harry had definitely missed waking up with his friends. Somehow, though, he could already sense how different this year was, and he could honestly say he was looking forward to it.

Monday, September 2nd

It was six in the morning, and Harry was much too awake to sleep again. He headed to the bathroom, took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and went down to the common room. It was empty, and Harry was about to walk out when a girlish voice stopped him.

"Good morning" she said, and Harry turned to see who it was. He was met with a very sleepy Padma. She had her hair tied back, and was wearing what looked like a nightgown. Harry smiled and returned her greeting.

"Why are you up this early?" she asked as she sat down on one of the armchairs.

"I slept early" he answered, but didn't sit. He wanted to go out and take a walk before they had to head to breakfast. He tried to excuse himself more than once, but Padma kept gossiping. He had no idea how she could talk so much this early in the morning, and he wasn't really paying attention to anything she was saying until "…Malfoy looks?" she sounded as if she was asking him something. And that got his attention. He looked at her, and shook his head.

"We saw him yesterday, he was with that Parkinson girl, I think they are dating, lucky witch! He is so bloody handsome" she continued, and went on and on about this person and that person, and who they were dating, and Harry wasn't interested anymore. He didn't take that walk either, because he didn't want to be rude. So he sat down next to her, and tried to ask her about Malfoy again until his friends joined them, and they headed to breakfast together.

Harry didn't really know why he wanted to ask about Malfoy. Perhaps because last year was just all over the place. Narcissa had helped him, and he couldn't watch Lucius go to Azkaban, no matter what he had done before. Malfoy had only talked to him once. Harry had found him after the trial, and had given him his wand back.

"Thank you, Potter" Malfoy had said, and walked away with his family. And Harry could only replay that answer over and over again. He had never heard Malfoy thank him before, and the Slytherin had never said his name like that, with a kind of gratitude. It had baffled Harry, and excited him somehow. He had, of course, dismissed all of those feelings.

Breakfast was over soon. Harry had sat down, had some bread and butter, talked about Quidditch with Ron and Seamus, and headed to class with his friends walking along.

They met Malfoy, Zabini, and Parkinson outside, while Crabbe and Goyle stood behind. None of the Slytherins even so much as looked their way. They stopped talking as soon as they saw the trio heading their way, and entered the class silently. Harry eyed Malfoy. He had definitely changed. His hair was no longer slicked back, his eyes were darker, his slender form had grown immensely, and his expression showed some tiredness behind it.

It had irked Harry, somehow, when Malfoy passed by him without so much as a glance. He really didn't want their relationship – whatever it was – to just change to this silence.

Hermione looked at Harry with worried eyes, and he smiled at her. She managed to smile back, but the worry in her face didn't disappear. Immediately after they sat down, Snape came inside, his robe bellowing behind him.

"Silence" Snape drawled in his monotonic voice. "What is Golpalott's third law?" he began, and the class was dead silent, except for Hermione's huffs of annoyance because Snape won't see her "no one?" he drawled again "yes, Ms. Granger?" he asked, surprising everyone in class, especially Hermione, who looked taken aback for a second before she went on explaining what she knew: "Golpalott's third law states that the antidote for a blended poison cannot be created by finding an antidote to each poison separately, thus the potion maker must find a single ingredient that would make all the antidotes together a one combined potion that will counteract the poison" she finished proudly, but Harry was lost, and didn't quite understand what she just said. Instead, he was staring at the back of Malfoy's head, trying to figure out why he was staring. As Snape began to explain what the law was, and demonstrate how it actually worked, Harry slipped into his own daydream. He was on the Quidditch field, riding his broom, looking around and trying to find the snitch, Malfoy inches away from him, staring at Harry, obviously not caring where the snitch was. Harry stopped looking around, and stared at the blonde. The snitch hovered right above their heads, but none of them moved. They kept looking at each other, and Malfoy looked like a masterpiece, with his forehead dripping with sweat, and his eyes fixated on Harry.

He felt somebody nudge him, and he looked over to see Ron staring at him with a questioning gaze on his face. Harry just smiled and nodded, and looked over at the board.

It was just five minutes later that he drifted away again. It wasn't his fault really. Snape kept drawling with his monotonic voice, and it was like the Professor was asking him to sleep. But this time, unfortunately, it wasn't Ron that nudged him.

"Mr. Potter, should I bring a pillow for your comfort?" Snape almost sneered at him. Well, that was definitely an improvement on the last insult Harry had gotten from him. Perhaps the war and everything that happened last year changed him.

"No, Sir" Harry muttered and lowered his head "Sorry" but apparently Snape wasn't quite done with him.

"Care to tell me what I just explained?" Snape asked, looking a bit smug. Harry, of course, had no idea what the Professor said at all. Well, if Snape asked him about how many hairs there were on Malfoy's neck, he'd tell him.

"Detention, Mr. Potter" Snape said, and returned to explaining his lesson.

Harry was bombarded with questions as soon as his foot was out of the door.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione began, and no matter how many times Harry assured her that there was nothing wrong, she didn't seem convinced at all.

"Yeah, mate, I had to nudge you three times before you noticed!" Ron agreed with Hermione energetically. And Harry just wanted this day to be over. How on earth was he supposed to explain to his friends that he was having daydreams about a bloke? And Malfoy no less?

"I was just distracted" Harry waved his hand dismissively. Both his friends looked at him with wary eyes, but didn't say anything anymore.

Their next class passed quickly, and Harry tried to pay as much attention as he could. McGonagall was going on and on about something that sounded very important, but even though they didn't share this class with the Slytherins, Harry was still imagining Malfoy.

It wasn't as if Harry was attracted to him, but just the way Malfoy had just ignored him plain and simple, was driving Harry mad. It was quite disrespectful, in Harry's opinion, to ignore someone so. But nonetheless, he managed to pretend to listen to what his Professor was saying, and also managed to pass Hermione's critical eye.

The trio made their way to lunch, and were met with a friendly Parkinson at the door to the Great Hall.

"Granger, may I have a word?" she began, and looked like she was trying really hard to smile.

Hermione looked startled for a moment, but she nodded and muttered "of course" and followed the Slytherin as she led the way.

Ron and Harry looked at each other, and tried to make sense of what just happened. None of them, however, seemed to know what that was about. They shrugged it off, and made their way to their table.

Harry scanned the Slytherin table, and was met with a fierce gaze. Unfortunately, it wasn't from Malfoy. Zabini was staring at him, and Harry met his gaze. Zabini finally smiled at Harry, and looked away.

"Ron…" Harry began, and waited until Ron swallowed his food and looked at him "I don't feel right" Harry said, lowering his voice and sliding closer to Ron.

"What do you mean?" his ginger friend asked, looking as intrigued as ever.

"Well, Parkinson wanted to talk with Hermione, and now Zabini was staring at me, and he smiled" Harry said suspiciously, and looked at the Slytherin table again.

"Do you think they are planning to do something? Like hex you?" Ron sounded worried, but also ready to defend Harry.

"I don't know" Harry said, but stopped when he noticed Hermione and Parkinson walking through the doors, both of them laughing with each other.

Hermione sat down, and was met with a pair of questioning eyes "what?" she asked, still smiling slightly.

"What was that all about?" Harry asked, while Ron dug in his food again.

"Parkinson wanted a truce, and I agreed" she explained simply "I think the other two will be coming as well" she continued and Harry looked puzzled, which was probably what made Hermione explain further "Zabini and Malfoy, I think they are just waiting for the right moment" she finished, and poured some pumpkin juice into her glass.

"Oh, that makes sense now" Harry sat back in his chair, and glanced at Malfoy, but the blonde was immersed in a conversation with Crabbe and Goyle.

Lunch passed eventlessly. And the trio made their way to their next class. Neville and Seamus joined them, and they went in together. Harry stared at Malfoy some more, but wasn't noticed by anyone.

When they got out of class, Malfoy and Zabini approached them.

"Weasley" Zabini began, smiling "Potter" he nodded. Malfoy stood there, but didn't say a word.

Zabini didn't say anything else. He held his hand to Ron, and waited till Ron took it in his. They shook hands, and Harry did as well. Malfoy just stood there.

Harry looked at him, and tried to push back the thoughts that were making their way to his mouth. He wanted to ask Malfoy why he was ignoring him, but he knew it didn't sound appropriate.

They stood there awkwardly, but then Zabini nudged Malfoy, and Malfoy lowered his head. Harry knew how Malfoy must have felt. Harry had rejected Malfoy's hand seven years ago, and it was very difficult for the blonde to do that again – what with all his Malfoy pride and all.

Harry drew closer to Malfoy, put his left hand on his shoulder, and when the blonde looked at him, he held his hand to him, which Malfoy reluctantly took. Ron did the same, before they all went in. A minute later, the Professor started explaining their new lesson.